Join SportsPro writers and guests for comment, insight and analysis on the matters of moment in the global sports industry. Listen to the SportsPro podcast here, or download now to listen at your leisure.

ECB lands Catapult data deal

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signed a key performance-based agreement with analytics firm Catapult, as the English national team begin their Test series against India.

The partnership, which will cover both the men’s and women’s senior teams, will see Catapult use its data-driven solutions to monitor and understand player performances. Catapult will provide micro-sensors for players to wear underneath their shirts, which will gather actionable physiological data.

Catapult will then provide insight to the teams’ coaches to better tailor conditioning and exercise.

“We’re really excited about this partnership,” said Raph Brandon, the ECB’s head of science, medicine and innovation.

“It has already brought us major benefits, and there is potential for so much more. Catapult are exciting partners to work with, as you can see from the range of quality of their other sporting partnerships all over the world.”

The partnership will cover the team for next the three years, a period which includes multiple Ashes series against Australia and an ICC World Twenty20, as well as the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and men’s ICC Champions Trophy and the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, all of which will take place in England.